1
: short in duration, extent, or length
a brief meeting
briefness
noun
1
a
: an official letter or mandate (see mandate entry 1 sense 1)
b
: a specific instruction or responsibility
his brief was to strengthen the army
2
3
: an outline of an argument
especially, law
: a formal written presentation of an argument that sets forth the main points with supporting precedents and evidence
a legal brief
filed a brief
4
briefed; briefing; briefs
1
: to make an abstract or abridgment of
brief a report
summarized northeastern Siberian archaeology and has briefed many normally unavailable sources—
Wendell Oswalt
Wendell Oswalt2
a
: to give final precise instructions to
were briefed before their mission
b
: to coach thoroughly in advance
c
: to give essential information to
The president is being briefed by his advisors.
3
: to discuss (something, such as a military operation) in a briefing
briefed the mission
briefer
noun
Synonyms
Adjective
- aphoristic
- apothegmatic
- capsule
- compact
- compendious
- concise
- crisp
- curt
- elliptical
- elliptic
- epigrammatic
- laconic
- monosyllabic
- pithy
- sententious
- succinct
- summary
- telegraphic
- terse
- thumbnail
Noun
- abstract
- breviary
- capsule
- conspectus
- digest
- encapsulation
- epitome
- inventory
- outline
- précis
- recap
- recapitulation
- résumé
- resume
- resumé
- roundup
- run-through
- rundown
- sum
- sum-up
- summa
- summarization
- summary
- summing-up
- synopsis
- wrap-up
Verb
Examples of brief in a Sentence
Adjective
The meeting will be brief.
The essay is brief but thorough enough.
a few brief words of caution
Noun
Her brief is to manage the company's sales department.
a one-page brief of the intelligence report
Verb
The captain briefed the crew on the new safety procedures.
The President has been briefed by his advisers.
Recent Examples on the WebJason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
This time, Israel is not allowing journalists in, except for brief visits when they are escorted by the Israeli military.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
Since Hamas took over Gaza after winning parliamentary elections in 2006, it has been engaged in at least four separate, relatively brief direct conflicts with Israel.
—Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Following the injury stoppage, Edgar Resendiz fired a successful shot to the right side to take a brief lead.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
After a brief ban from the Country Music Television's music video rotation, Aldean was welcomed back to perform at the 2024 CMT Music Awards.
—Emily St. Martin, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
Some of the heavier storms can produce flooding, hail, and brief strong wind gusts.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
For a brief period last year, Modelo became the nation's top selling beer brand.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Whether the romantic dalliance is merely a brief flirtation is besides the point–Dua and Callum are both, quite literally, dining out on the publicity.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Victoria Song, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024
So does the brief, but potent, column by Andres Oppenheimer.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024
The defense had been working toward an April 17 deadline to file their briefs with support for the request, which was the basis of the phone surveys.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 4 Apr. 2024
In his brief, Evers said that the law empowers municipal clerks with the discretion to establish and operate drop boxes in their communities as one option for voting.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2024
Mayes urges Supreme Court for temporary pause on Idaho law
In the coalition's brief, which was filed Friday, Mayes and other attorneys general urged the Court to maintain the temporary pause on the Idaho law.
—Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024
Through legal briefs, scholarly research and a book-publishing venture, Mr. Jesse advocated the use of hallucinogenic chemicals and plants for the greater good of humanity.
—Brendan Borrell, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Maidenform Tame Your Tummy Brief Maidenform briefs have a super wide waistband that offers extra firm control and smoothing for your stomach.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2024
The closing briefs are due in the summer and the Commission is expected to issue an order on the case in the fall.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Mar. 2024
Makena Kelly, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
Biden addresses Key Bridge collapse after briefing Kyla Guilfoil
Biden was briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge this morning by senior members of his team, according to a post to his X account.
—NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024
More than a dozen major medical groups, led by the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and the American Medical Assn., said in friend-of-the court briefs that two decades of studies have shown the drugs are safe.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
The company is briefing them ahead of meetings with their representatives and media interviews.
—Haleluya Hadero, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024
Mar 26, 5:09 AM Biden briefed on collapse President Joe Biden has been briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the ongoing search and rescue efforts, according to a White House official.
—Abc News, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2024
The app earned $500 million in net profit in 2023, compared to a $200 million loss the year before, according to people briefed on the company’s financials.
—Michal Lev-Ram, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024
The official, who asked not to be named to brief reporters ahead of the announcement, declined to specify those milestones and said they will be further articulated as Intel progresses toward a final agreement.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
The government of Saudi Arabia plans to create a fund of about $40 billion to invest in artificial intelligence, according to three people briefed on the plans — the latest sign of the gold rush toward a technology that has already begun reshaping how people live and work.
—Rob Copeland, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Adjective
In it, after a brief discussion of philosophy and technique, Perrone details about a hundred Connaught Bar originals, with instructions to make them at home.
—Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 6 Apr. 2024
This time, Israel is not allowing journalists in, except for brief visits when they are escorted by the Israeli military.
—Greg Myre, NPR, 6 Apr. 2024
Since Hamas took over Gaza after winning parliamentary elections in 2006, it has been engaged in at least four separate, relatively brief direct conflicts with Israel.
—Karen Deyoung, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Following the injury stoppage, Edgar Resendiz fired a successful shot to the right side to take a brief lead.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Apr. 2024
After a brief ban from the Country Music Television's music video rotation, Aldean was welcomed back to perform at the 2024 CMT Music Awards.
—Emily St. Martin, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
Some of the heavier storms can produce flooding, hail, and brief strong wind gusts.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
For a brief period last year, Modelo became the nation's top selling beer brand.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Whether the romantic dalliance is merely a brief flirtation is besides the point–Dua and Callum are both, quite literally, dining out on the publicity.
—Alice Newbold, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Noun
The 916 pages filed today include a 68 page brief, the 300+ page ITC decision being appealed, hundreds of eye-watering pages from the Patent Office, and more.
—Victoria Song, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024
So does the brief, but potent, column by Andres Oppenheimer.
—Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 5 Apr. 2024
The defense had been working toward an April 17 deadline to file their briefs with support for the request, which was the basis of the phone surveys.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 4 Apr. 2024
In his brief, Evers said that the law empowers municipal clerks with the discretion to establish and operate drop boxes in their communities as one option for voting.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 2 Apr. 2024
Mayes urges Supreme Court for temporary pause on Idaho law
In the coalition's brief, which was filed Friday, Mayes and other attorneys general urged the Court to maintain the temporary pause on the Idaho law.
—Madeline Nguyen, The Arizona Republic, 29 Mar. 2024
Through legal briefs, scholarly research and a book-publishing venture, Mr. Jesse advocated the use of hallucinogenic chemicals and plants for the greater good of humanity.
—Brendan Borrell, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
Maidenform Tame Your Tummy Brief Maidenform briefs have a super wide waistband that offers extra firm control and smoothing for your stomach.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 25 Mar. 2024
The closing briefs are due in the summer and the Commission is expected to issue an order on the case in the fall.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
The White House briefed dozens of online creators on President Biden’s State of the Union address ahead of the speech.
—Makena Kelly, WIRED, 4 Apr. 2024
Biden addresses Key Bridge collapse after briefing Kyla Guilfoil
Biden was briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge this morning by senior members of his team, according to a post to his X account.
—NBC News, 27 Mar. 2024
More than a dozen major medical groups, led by the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists and the American Medical Assn., said in friend-of-the court briefs that two decades of studies have shown the drugs are safe.
—David G. Savage, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
The company is briefing them ahead of meetings with their representatives and media interviews.
—Haleluya Hadero, Quartz, 12 Mar. 2024
Mar 26, 5:09 AM Biden briefed on collapse President Joe Biden has been briefed on the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge and the ongoing search and rescue efforts, according to a White House official.
—Abc News, ABC News, 26 Mar. 2024
The app earned $500 million in net profit in 2023, compared to a $200 million loss the year before, according to people briefed on the company’s financials.
—Michal Lev-Ram, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2024
The official, who asked not to be named to brief reporters ahead of the announcement, declined to specify those milestones and said they will be further articulated as Intel progresses toward a final agreement.
—Bloomberg, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2024
The government of Saudi Arabia plans to create a fund of about $40 billion to invest in artificial intelligence, according to three people briefed on the plans — the latest sign of the gold rush toward a technology that has already begun reshaping how people live and work.
—Rob Copeland, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'brief.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Brief.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brief. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
brief
2 of 3 noun1
: a brief statement of the case a lawyer will present in court
2
plural
: short snug underpants
brief
3 of 3 verb
: to give information or instructions to
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English bref, breve "short, brief," from early French brief, bref (same meaning), from Latin brevis "short" — related to breve
Noun
Middle English bref "formal letter," from early French bref (same meaning), derived from Latin brevis "summary," from earlier brevis (adjective) "short, brief"
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